LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: City Council Member Jewel Cannada-Wynn
SUBJECT:
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LETTER SUPPORTING FAST TRACKING CONSTRUCTION OF SHORT TERM SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WEST CERVANTES STREET CORRIDOR
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RECOMMENDATION:
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That City Council authorize the Council President to send a letter to Phillip Gainer, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, supporting fast tracking construction of the short term safety improvements identified in FDOT’s West Cervantes Street Corridor Management Plan (CMP).
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HEARING REQUIRED: No Hearing Required
SUMMARY:
In 2016, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) prepared a Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for State Road 10A (US 90/West Cervantes St), from North A Street to Dominguez Street which included analysis of existing and future safety and travel capacity needs, local stakeholder review and recommendations, and identified options for short-term and long-term strategies and projects to improve safety and traffic flow for all modes of travel along the corridor (Complete Streets), including a road rebalancing/road diet option.
The West Cervantes Street CMP documented that more than 457 accidents occurred along the corridor between 2010 and 2015, including 147, which resulted in injury, 306 which resulted in property damage and 4 which resulted in pedestrian fatalities. Since the CMP data collection period, numerous other crashes have occurred, including a pedestrian fatality as recently as June 6, 2018. The short-term and long-term strategies and projects identified in the West Cervantes Street CMP are vital to the safety of community residents and to the regeneration of the Westside Community Redevelopment Area in accordance with the City of Pensacola’s (City) adopted Westside Community Redevelopment Area Plan.
On October 7, 2017, the CRA adopted Resolution No. 2017-4 CRA supporting the short-term and long-term recommendations of the West Cervantes Street CMP, including Compete Streets, and the progression of the project through all phases by FDOT for roadway design improvements to enhance the community with an attractive streetscape, multi-modal transportation and safe pedestrian access. City Council has appropriated $1.5 million of Local Option Sales Tax Series IV funding in Fiscal Year 2018 to support the design and construction West Cervantes Street Corridor improvements.
The urgency of the documented safety concerns along the corridor, as well as anticipated redevelopment, make the West Cervantes Street safety improvements a high priority for the local community. FDOT has identified the West Cervantes Street corridor for prioritization for funding certain of the safety improvements recommended in the CMP in the coming fiscal year.
City participation with FDOT through a Locally Funded Agreement (LFA) will accelerate and expand the scope of immediate safety improvements facilitating their construction to the fullest extent and as quickly as possible. These may include roadway and pedestrian level street lighting, mid-block crossings with safe haven refuges, upgraded traffic signalization, crosswalk enhancements, new pavement markings, new/additional traffic controls, ADA upgrades, etc. enhancements that will not require removal to construct the long-term improvements. City participation in funding the Traffic Feasibility Study (TFS) required for evaluation of the long-term roadway design improvements including Complete Streets improvements. It is proposed that the City of Pensacola enter into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Escambia County to split the cost of funding the TFS in proportion to the length of the corridor that falls within each jurisdiction (36% or County/64% City).
On June 13, 2018 the Florida-Alabama TPO expressed major concerns regarding the safety of the West Cervantes Street corridor in Escambia County. The TPO has committed to do all it can to implement immediate safety measures on West Cervantes. Specifically mention are requests to reduce land widths from 11 feet to 10 or 10.5 feed, reduce the speed limit to 30 miles per hour, add designated crosswalks, push button signals and other traffic calming measures.
PRIOR ACTION:
September 20, 2017 - City Council appropriated $1.5 million of Local Option Sales Tax Series IV funding in Fiscal Year 2018 for West Cervantes Street Corridor Improvements.
June 14, 2018 - City Council authorized the use of funds dedicated to West Cervantes Street Corridor for short term improvements
FUNDING:
Budget: $1,500,000
Actual: $TBD
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
After remitting the City’s portion for the Traffic Feasibility Study, the remainder of the funds from the LOST IV line item are available for short term improvements.
STAFF CONTACT:
Don Kraher, Council Executive
ATTACHMENTS:
1) W. Cervantes St. info and letter to FDOT
PRESENTATION: No